Chief Rugby League Reporter

All bets are off: The NRL is looking away from lucrative gambling partnerships following the Tom Waterhouse controversy last season. Photo: Getty Images

When it comes to getting in to bed with an official bookmaking partner, all bets are off for the NRL.

The ARL Commission has confirmed it is almost certain to go into the 2014 season without a preferred wagering partner, perhaps ending forever such a relationship between bookmakers and rugby league. The development comes as Manly sponsor Centrebet has attempted to part ways with Manly despite being contracted for next season.

Negotiations between the NRL and Tom Waterhouse – on a deal reportedly worth $20 million over five years – unravelled earlier this year. While several agencies – including long-term partner TAB – expressed interest in taking up the vacant property, it is understood there have been no negotiations between the parties.

"We have not appointed another preferred betting partner and are unlikely to pursue such a relationship in 2014," said Paul Kind, the NRL's head of commercial. The NRL has reviewed the category in recent months and come to the conclusion the financial return isn't near enough to offset the adverse publicity around sports wagering. It pulled out of negotiations with Tom Waterhouse following a backlash over his saturation coverage on the Nine Network early in the league season.

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While Waterhouse's role diminished – his "commentator" status was revoked and his appearances were limited to talking about odds – the league won't seek a replacement. The same cannot be said of Nine, which is poised to unveil Sportsbet as its new official wagering partner. The Australian Financial Review revealed on Wednesday the online bookmaker will replace Tom Waterhouse on a deal reportedly worth $40 m over four years.

Sportsbet, which is owned by Irish owners Paddy Power, already has an agreement with the network to advertise on The Footy Show. The value of any deal between the NRL and betting agency is questionable for both parties in the current climate. Revelations the Australian Crime Commission had identified links between sport and underworld figures – with the potential for match-fixing – have clouded the code during ASADA's investigations of rugby league.

The Ryan Tandy spot-fixing scandal also raised questions about whether it was appropriate for the NRL to have an official betting partner. "Being called the official betting partner of the NRL, I'm not sure what that's worth," said Betstar boss Alan Eskander. "I wouldn't have thought it was millions and millions of dollars. Even if it means getting access to their marketing collateral – such as access to their website or mail outs or creative – the quantum of that is hard to grasp. From the NRL's point of view, I've always been a big believer in market forces – if they believe it's not in their best interests to sign up with a corporate bookmaker, then good on them, I've got no problem with that whatsoever. And if most of their fans are ambivalent, then they should be able to do that without being frowned upon."

Sea Eagles backer Centrebet, recently taken over by British operator William Hill, is reviewing its commitments in the Australian market. Centrebet has held talks with the grand finalists about ending their association before its contract lapses at the end of 2014. It's understood Centrebet has encouraged Manly to look for a replacement and has even offered to offset some of the costs for a replacement if it meant an early exit.

However, the deal is a lucrative one for Manly, a club which will post a small profit this year after decades in the red, and they are likely to hold them to their contract.

2 comments so far

About time. There is nothing wrong with a bet but as we have seen once betting becomes routine and large sums flow then the underworld characters with all their charm gain sway. All one has to do is look at match fixing in Cricket, what has happened in soccer and one would be foolish to believe these are the only two sports affected.Guess Phil and the Channel 9 Commentary team will have to find another mate, but I did find it all rather nauseating when watching in the afternoon and having Waterhouse spruik his odds at every opportunity. Why because if there were kids about it would all seem normal. What people don't understand that many billions are wasted in gambling and if you don't have an insiders view it is most likely that you lose. Gambling is a strange beast there is no transparency and the House always wins over the medium to long term. And if you know someone is on a drug and you have them play a bad game all the better. I am not saying Waterhouse did that rather there would be players and criminals who do this and what better way to do it through a platform like Waterhouses especially with the commentary team etc giving credibility